Atticus’ gaze narrowed as a flicker slipped through the fog.

The next moment, a snarl tore through the air. A large, gaping maw burst out from the haze, snapping shut around the man’s legs up to his upper torso.

As golden blood sprayed across the sky, every gaze snapped wide.

"REVERENTS!"

More flickers rippled through the fog the next instant. An endless wave of beasts surged out, rushing toward them.

"Endless blade."

An incalculable number of slashes materialized, carving through the wave in an instant. Every eye turned to Atticus. He now hovered in the air, his will raging around him like a storm.

Atticus’ expression hardened as he stared into the fog.

These reverents looked different from the earlier ones. Though the crimson teeth, claws, and jagged bones jutting from their backs remained, their forms were more avian, with wide, beating wings. But that wasn’t the only difference.

’They’re stronger.’

He had also learned something important from Gladious. The closer they drew to civilization, to the center, the stronger the reverents became.

The ones he had just cut down felt as strong as the Alpha he’d killed days ago. And beneath it all, Atticus could feel it, the heavy presence lurking below.

’This is unfavorable.’

The terrain was mountainous, and more importantly, clearly their territory. Fighting here would be a mistake.

Atticus swept a glance over the others.

"We’re moving. Don’t hold back."

They responded without hesitation, their wills flaring to life. Gladious and his people followed suit instantly. Without another word, they surged forward, thundering along the mountain path at full speed.

Due to not wanting to attract the beasts, they had held back from using their wills. But now, with nothing restraining them, their speed surged. Even the weakest among them drew upon a semblance of will.

A cacophony of piercing screeches ripped through the mountains. The ground shuddered beneath them as an oppressive bloodlust flooded the entire area.

Still, none of them slowed. They reached the end of the path and descended a tall hill at full pace, bursting into an endless forest the next moment.

At that point, Atticus moved his gaze upward. Above them, an uncountable swarm of reverents filled the sky. Each crimson gaze locked onto them with unrestrained killing intent.

"...yeah, that’s bad." Whisker muttered, his brow creasing.

"Hmph! They’re nothing. I’ll crush their skulls myself." Ozeroth said with a scoff.

Anorah remained silent. She met Atticus’ eyes briefly, then glanced toward Gladious and his people.

Atticus immediately understood.

’It’ll be difficult.’

With numbers like that, facing the reverents while protecting the others would put them at a disadvantage.

Compared to his own people, none of them seemed capable of holding their own. But Atticus discarded the thought just as quickly.

’They’re not my concern.’

He knew Anastasia would have something to say about that, and he understood how Anorah likely felt, but he had meant what he said.

None of them were his responsibility.

"We’ll fight here."

Atticus stepped forward, his aura sinking heavily over the area. There was no point running any further. He could feel it, the Alpha had already locked onto their wills.

SCHREEEECH!

A piercing screech tore down from the mountain, a violent gust sweeping through the forest in its wake. Even as a second passed, the ground continued to tremble.

Above, the reverents’ eyes flared. Then, in unison, they dove from the sky, tearing straight toward them.

Atticus’ gaze sharpened as his grip tightened on his katana. He was about to move when a golden beam suddenly descended from the heavens, tearing straight through the mountain.

It detonated in a cataclysmic explosion, hurling massive chunks of rock and debris outward. Atticus’ will surged, spreading over the group in a protective dome. The debris that slammed into it dissolved into nothingness on contact.

Atticus narrowed his eyes through the dense haze that swallowed the area. With a thought, a pulse rippled outward from him, sweeping the haze away in an instant.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

’Hm?’

Above, the endless swarm of reverents had begun dropping from the sky. The moment Atticus caught sight of their withering forms, his eyes narrowed further.

’They’re dead.’

If they were dead, then the Alpha was...

Atticus cut the thought short as a golden dome came into view, closing in on them.

The moment he sensed the figures within, his stance shifted subtly, his guard rising. These people had helped them, but he held no illusions. To Atticus, everyone, until proven otherwise, was an enemy.

The others mirrored him immediately, tensing. Anorah, Ozeroth, and Whisker stepped forward, taking position beside him.

As the dome reached them, it unraveled, revealing a group of men and... women. Well, one couldn’t exactly downplay that.

There were at least two dozen women, each clad in revealing attire that left little to the imagination. In contrast, the men numbered fewer than ten.

They were draped in pale, flowing garments fastened at the neck, falling over their chiseled frames in a style reminiscent of a medieval Roman empire aesthetic, leaving their torsos bare.

Regardless, Atticus’ gaze settled on the man standing at the forefront. The others seemed to dip their heads ever so slightly in his presence.

’Their leader.’

The man stood tall, an air of quiet regality about him. Dirty blonde hair framed faintly glowing golden eyes, while his lustrous skin seemed to hum with contained vigor.

’He’s strong,’ Atticus noted inwardly.

A smile spread across the man’s face the moment his gaze fell on them.

"Friends... it’s a pleasure to meet you! I am Elomont True Mosan, and these are my—"

"Why did you help us?"

Elomont paused, blinking once. A faint chill flickered through his eyes. Had he just... been interrupted?

"Yo—"

Elomont lifted a hand, stopping Kass midstep. The ward immediately bowed in deference and withdrew.

His smile never faltered as he turned his attention back to Atticus.

"...In times like these, we help each other, don’t you think? With the reverents moving like this, it’s only natural we support one another."

Atticus’ brows were just beginning to draw together when he felt a slight tug from behind. Without shifting his focus from Elomont, he cast a glance back and caught Gladious staring at him with clear unease.

"M-my supreme lord... that man, he’s..."

"Ah... High Lord Gladious. Didn’t see you there."

Gladious flinched instinctively, his throat tightening.

"I’m glad you’re alive. Truly—I was starting to think you’d died on me."

"You..." Gladious’ fists clenched at his sides as he glared at Elomont. The latter only returned it with an easy smile.

Watching the exchange, Atticus pieced it together at once.

"You’re the one behind the attack on their stronghold."

Gladious nodded immediately. Elomont, on the other hand, let out a light chuckle.

"It was just a little game between us. As you can see, I lost." His gaze lingered on Atticus, quiet curiosity settling within it. "...I’d really like to know how."

Seeing that look, Atticus understood.

’He followed us.’

Elomont had clearly intended for Gladious to die, but he had become an unexpected variable that disrupted those plans.

He had followed them for the sole purpose of seeing that variable for himself.

Regardless, Atticus didn’t care that Elomont had wanted Gladious dead. He held no regard for the man. What mattered was what came after.

Gladious was his guide, a valuable source of information. He had no intention of letting that go.

"He’s one of mine now," Atticus said, holding Elomont’s gaze. "You can’t have him."

Gladious’ eyes widened. It was not in gratitude, but in sheer disbelief. This was a scion of the Mosan family, one of the three great powers in the entire First Crown!

Even if he had tried to kill him, it didn’t change the gap between them. Elomont was far beyond his reach. Yet Atticus had just spoken to him as though it meant nothing! 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

The gazes of Elomont’s followers hardened, their eyes narrowing. This insect had the audacity—

"Pfft..."

Elomont suddenly broke into laughter, drawing confused looks from those behind him. He wiped at the corner of his eyes a moment later, his expression still bright as he looked back at Atticus.

Never, since his birth, had anyone, hunter or otherwise, spoken to him like that. This man was absurd.

"...It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ve had my fun with him already—you can keep him." He waved it off as though it were nothing. "Besides... you’re traveling rather heavy."

His gaze swept across the group, lingering briefly on each woman before returning to Atticus.

"...Looks like we’re headed the same way. Why don’t we move together?"

Atticus held the man’s gaze in silence. Taking his words at face value would be foolish. However...

’He’s using something.’

From the moment Elomont arrived, it felt as though a curtain had settled over them. Beyond a certain range, his will met resistance, as if an unseen barrier cut it off from extending any further.

He didn’t know how Elomont was doing it, but it was enough to keep the reverents from detecting them.

’It doesn’t change anything.’

Whether they moved together or not, if Elomont intended to harm them, nothing would change.

And if it came to that, Atticus wouldn’t hesitate to cut him down. At the very least, they could make use of this.

Atticus met Elomont’s gaze, then gave a small nod.

"Alright."